A unique way to tell the Christmas story

On Sunday, December 17, the youth of Ivy Chapel presented the annual Christmas pageant – with a twist. The kids told the familiar story of Mary and Joseph’s journey, leading to the whole world’s discovery of the miracle of Jesus’ birth, and punctuated it with jokes about aliens and other pop culture references.

Thanks to Linda Lowry for her hard work pulling the pageant together in what seems to be a shorter and shorter time every year, and to all of the parents who helped make it happen. And, of course, congratulations to all of the kids who turned in such wonderful performances.

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Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events

The holiday season is a busy time for everyone… and it’s really bustling here at Ivy Chapel. We hope you’ll be able to take time to celebrate with us as we prepare for the celebration that is the miracle of Jesus Christ’s birth. Need more information about any of these events? Drop us a line and we’ll fill you in.

Here are some of the events going on this month:

Sunday, December 4

Hanging of the Greens during worship

Potluck Soup & Bread Lunch after worship

Santa’s Workshop after lunch – there’s still time to sign up to participate (ages 5 years – 6th grade) or to help out (7th grade – adult).  Our Santa’s Workshop elves are finalizing their plans tonight so just let us know ASAP so that we can make sure we have enough crafts.

Sunday, December 11

Choir Christmas Cantata during worship (no Sunday School – let’s all enjoy the Cantata)

For Middle & High School Youth – putting together the College Care Packages after worship

ALL YOUTH (grades K – 12!!!) Cookie Baking & Card Making party (with pizza!!)  4:45 – 6:15

6:30 – Advent Storytelling in the sanctuary.  Hearing stories read by candlelight, followed by cookies and fellowship. ALL ages are welcome - from babies to the oldest among us!

Saturday, December 17

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal in the Sanctuary 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 18

Christmas Pageant during worship (come at 9:15 to get your costumes on)

Saturday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Family Worship – 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Worship – 11:00 p.m. service

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Morning – worship at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 27

College Student Get together – Middle School, High School and College Aged Youth – meet for lunch then on to our service activity

Thursday, December 29 – Friday, December 30

Alpha-Omega (Sr. High) Christmas Party and Lock-in! We’ll be doing our annual “gift exchange”.   More details to come later.

Santa’s Workshop and Hanging of the Greens Dec. 4

It’s that time of year again… time to get our church ready for the holidays… and time for the young people to have fun making presents for the ones they love in Santa’s Workshop. On Sunday, Dec. 4, we’ll celebrate with a Pot Luck lunch, and then kids aged 5 through 6th grade will head to the basement for the fun. The cost is just $6 per child to cover supplies. Want to sign up? Drop us an email for more information. And be sure to be here for all of our other special Advent and Christmas activities!

If you’re interested, fill out this form and bring it with you.

Thank you, and Merry Christmas from Ivy Chapel.

11 Days. 1 Million Items of food. You can help!

Join Ivy Chapel from Nov. 1-11 on a shared mission to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice. We are working with the United Church of Christ on Mission: 1.

This is MISSION: 1

•  In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will collect more than 1 MILLION ITEMS OF HEALTHY FOOD and other household items for local food banks and outreach services. Please drop off your food donations at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 N. Woods Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO.

•  In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will make an extra-special push to gather online contributions of more than $111,111 DOLLARS for Neighbors in Need food-related ministries, offerings that will be shared for hunger-action purposes with  agencies of justice and compassion throughout the United States; and $111,111 for East Africa famine-related ministries.

•  In 11 days, the United Church of Christ will offer more than 11,111 LETTERS to Congress asking our government to reform U.S. foreign assistance in a way that more effectively benefits hungry and poor people worldwide, helping to provide a major final push to Bread for the World’s 2011 “Offering of Letters” campaign.

Will you help? Have you already helped? Let us know in the comments or send us an e-mail and let us know, or call (314) 434-4991.

Trunk or Treat, Ivy Chapel Style!

Trunk or Treat has been one of the fellowship highlights at Ivy Chapel for several years. It’s always a lot of fun to see the kids dress up and get lets of treats.

But this year we decided to kick it up a notch. Of course, costumes were still the rule of the day. But we also roasted marshmallows, cooked hotdogs and enjoyed the afternoon under the pavilion. It was a great time at what is usually a very busy time of the year.

Thanks to everyone who took time to plan this event, and thanks to everyone who shared their Halloween spirit with us!

Here are some photos from the event. Check out more on the Ivy Chapel photos page.

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Let’s bake bread together

As has become our tradition at Ivy Chapel, early in October members gathered together to learn to bake a variety of international breads. We shared the bread with the congregation on World Communion Sunday, the first week in October.

This year, we made Mediterranean flatbread, Finnish barley bread and dark German Rye.

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HarvestFest Fundraiser: November 5!

It’s that time of year again, time for one of Ivy Chapel’s biggest fundraisers. It’s an auction. It’s a huge fellowship event. It’s a wine tasting.

It’s HarvestFest! November 5, 2011 at 6:30 at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 N. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield. The cost is $15 per person in advance, and $20 at the door.

The last HarvestFest raised over $9,000 and we need your help to make this year’s event even bigger. Proceeds will benefit two local food pantries, Joint Neighborhood Ministry and Circle of Concern.

Get in touch with us if you have any questions about the event.

Auction and other donations welcome: Click here to download the invitation and donation form.

Special Offering for Neighbors in Need Oct. 2

Sunday, October 2 Ivy Chapel will observe World Communion Sunday. We will also have a special mission offering for Neighbors In Need fund—UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries(JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.

Click here to make contributions on the NIN website.

Gaze at the Stars, Oct. 8

Participate in World Food Day, October 15

For the second year, the youth of Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ is taking part in World Food Day festivities at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

The Center is hosting a community food packaging event to commemorate “World Food Day.” World Food Day is observed annually and is intended to to increase awareness, understanding and action to alleviate hunger. It is held in recognition of the founding of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Center’s program consists of one-hour food packaging sessions, where volunteers assemble nutritious rice/soy meals to be sent to those in need in Africa. After the packaging session, participants have the opportunity to tour the Danforth Center and learn about their research into reducing hunger and malnutrition around the world. The Danforth Center is located at Olive and Warson Roads in Creve Coeur

We have selected 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15 as our time slot. The cost is $10 for students and $20 for adults (plus wiring fee). Click here to learn more and to register for World Food Day. When you do, please put “Ivy Chapel” in the organization section so we will be grouped together.

Need more information? Drop us a line and we’ll fill you in.

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